Edward S Chang

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Researchers added a plant-derived compound, agrimoniin, to the cold storage solution used to preserve donor livers from hearts-stopped donors before transplant, and tested whether it protected the liver tissue. Agrimoniin significantly reduced oxidative damage and a form of cell death called ferroptosis in both rat livers and human liver cell lines, working through a cellular defense pathway called Nrf-2. The results suggest agrimoniin could improve liver graft survival and transplant outcomes from donation-after-cardiac-death donors.

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This review describes how stereotactic radiosurgery — a technique that delivers precisely targeted, high-dose radiation to small tumors — is used to treat brain metastases, which affect up to 30% of cancer patients. The approach achieves tumor control rates comparable to whole-brain radiation while sparing patients from cognitive side effects. Ongoing research is evaluating its use for patients with five or more brain lesions, as a pre-surgery option, and in combination with newer systemic cancer therapies.

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A study in 112 transplant recipients with a serious lung fungal infection (Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia) found that additional infections detected at the same time strongly predicted worse outcomes. Bacterial co-infections more than quintupled the risk of death within 30 days, while simultaneous CMV infection drove longer hospital stays and more frequent need for mechanical ventilation. These findings suggest that checking for co-infections at diagnosis could help identify the sickest patients and guide more aggressive early management.

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Using brain lesion data from 85 stroke survivors, researchers compared which brain areas are necessary for reading words aloud versus silently recognizing them. Damage to the superior temporal gyrus and nearby regions impaired oral reading specifically, while damage to the angular gyrus affected silent reading recognition, but both tasks also shared critical regions in the temporal and visual cortex. The findings show that reading aloud and reading silently rely on partly overlapping but distinct brain networks, and stroke assessments should test both types of reading.

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South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare is funding a four-year project to develop a culturally adapted model for shared decision-making (SDM) — the practice of doctors and patients making treatment choices together — for use across Korean hospitals. The project will survey current practices, develop and validate assessment tools, build a data management system, and propose a reimbursement policy to make SDM sustainable nationwide. The goal is to shift Korean clinical culture toward more patient-centered care, addressing structural and cultural barriers that have limited SDM adoption.

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Researchers tested a new MRI-based method that can separately map two types of magnetic materials — calcium (diamagnetic) and iron/hemosiderin (paramagnetic) — in joints and bones, which standard MRI cannot distinguish. In patients with hemophilic arthropathy, where iron deposits from repeated joint bleeds cause damage, the new technique clearly visualized iron deposits that were hidden or obscured in conventional scans. This advance could improve monitoring of joint damage in hemophilia and other conditions where distinguishing iron from calcium in tissue matters clinically.

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This report summarizes presentations from the 2025 Bioelectronic Medicine Summit, which brought together researchers, clinicians, and industry representatives to discuss advances in using electrical devices to treat disease. Key themes included personalized neuromodulation approaches and expanding access to these therapies for underserved patient populations. The summit covered progress from basic science through commercialization across a range of neurological and inflammatory conditions.

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This study tested whether a radiation-free MRI technique called zero echo time (ZTE) MRI could replace CT scans for measuring bone loss in the shoulder socket of patients with repeat dislocations. In 11 patients, ZTE MRI measurements agreed almost perfectly with CT results, and the combined MRI approach cost roughly 40% less than ordering both MRI and CT. ZTE MRI can serve as a single-scan, lower-cost, radiation-free alternative for pre-surgical shoulder evaluation.

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Field experiments in Oregon's carrot seed-growing region measured how a bacterial plant pathogen disperses through the air during harvest. Particle size and distance from the source both predicted how much bacteria was detected in air samplers, with larger particles settling faster and closer to the source. Developing these aerobiology measurements allows better risk models for how far the pathogen can spread between fields, which is critical because even trace contamination can disqualify carrot seed from international trade.

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Researchers compared two different scoring systems for diagnosing long COVID in 183 Korean adults followed for one year after infection. The broader NASEM criteria classified nearly half of participants as having long COVID, while the stricter PASC index classified about one quarter, with most PASC-positive patients also meeting the NASEM criteria. The two tools serve different purposes: the NASEM criteria captures a wider spectrum of post-infection symptoms, while the PASC index may be more useful for identifying patients for targeted clinical research or treatment trials.

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A case series from multiple Asian clinics documented outcomes when a hydrogel wound care product was applied to a variety of acute and chronic wounds. The gel promoted new tissue growth and skin regrowth, provided pain relief, and was easy for patients to use consistently. The cases support the product's safety and effectiveness across different wound types, though controlled comparative trials are still needed.

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Researchers developed a prototype implantable brain monitoring system that communicates directly with epilepsy patients through a smartphone app, using a large language model to interpret brain signals and discuss them in plain language. The system detected seizures, tracked sleep and cognition from brain activity, and automatically improved its performance over days rather than the months of physician programming currently required. Patients responded positively to real-time updates about their brain health, suggesting that two-way AI communication could become a practical tool for managing epilepsy and other chronic neurological conditions.

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A phase I trial enrolled 30 patients with recurring glioblastoma and used comprehensive genomic profiling of each patient's tumor to design a personalized drug combination of up to four approved medications. Progression-free survival at six months was 40% and median overall survival was 12.7 months — not significantly better than standard salvage treatments — and most patients required dose reductions due to side effects. While individual genomic targeting is logistically feasible, combining multiple cancer drugs at full doses proved too toxic, limiting their effectiveness.

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A clinical trial is using brain electrodes (stereoelectroencephalography) to map individual patients' brain networks before implanting a deep brain stimulation device to treat severe, treatment-resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder. Rather than using a fixed brain target, the approach uses each patient's own brain activity and connectivity maps to guide where up to four permanent electrodes are placed for long-term stimulation. The trial aims to show that this personalized targeting strategy is safe, feasible, and leads to clinically meaningful symptom reduction.

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Male and female mice maintain the immune cells in their salivary glands through fundamentally different processes: in males, tissue-resident macrophages are long-lived and self-renewing, while in females they are shorter-lived and continuously replaced by circulating monocytes from the blood. Female salivary glands also contain more inflammatory immune cells overall and show higher expression of pro-inflammatory genes. This sex difference may help explain why Sjogren's disease — a chronic inflammatory condition that destroys salivary and tear glands — affects women at far higher rates than men.

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This review summarizes how machine learning is being applied to the design and optimization of nanoparticle drug delivery systems, covering over 10 categories of formulations used in medicine. Machine learning models can predict key drug carrier properties — such as particle size, stability, and how much drug gets released — reducing the trial-and-error traditionally required in formulation development. The authors identify current limitations and argue that wider adoption of these methods could significantly accelerate the path from drug discovery to clinical use.

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A multi-center study reviewed outcomes for 37 children with inflammatory bowel disease who received tofacitinib, a drug approved for adults, after failing other treatments. About half achieved meaningful symptom relief within three months, and nearly half achieved remission without needing steroids by six months. This is one of the largest pediatric datasets for this drug and supports its effectiveness in children with treatment-resistant IBD, though infections were a notable side effect.

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Researchers used two types of brain imaging in mice with severe acetaminophen-induced liver injury to map inflammation and energy metabolism changes across the brain before overt symptoms of brain failure appeared. Distinct brain regions showed abnormal patterns of neuroinflammation and altered glucose metabolism, revealing a brain-wide signature of early liver injury. These imaging patterns could potentially serve as biomarkers to catch hepatic encephalopathy earlier in patients and guide treatment before the condition becomes life-threatening.

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Over 493 days, researchers tracked how different bacterial communities shaped the breakdown of leaf litter from six plant species in a dry, hot ecosystem in China. Bacterial traits — particularly whether bacteria were specialists adapted to low-nutrient conditions — explained more of the variation in decomposition rates than the chemical composition of the litter itself. The study highlights that the life strategies of microbes, not just the chemistry of what they are eating, are key drivers of how carbon and nutrients cycle through stressed ecosystems.

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Two AI language models were trained to automatically classify epilepsy and seizure types from doctors' written clinical notes, rather than relying on standardized diagnostic codes. The best-performing model (DeepSeek-R1) matched expert neurologist accuracy and was deployed across nearly 77,000 clinical notes from over 18,000 patients, revealing population-level patterns in how epilepsy diagnoses evolve over time. Automating this classification makes it possible to conduct large-scale research on epilepsy treatment and outcomes that is not feasible with standard structured medical records.

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Using electrodes implanted directly on the brains of patients, researchers mapped how the left and right halves of the orbitofrontal cortex — a brain region involved in decision-making and emotions — communicate with each other. Stimulating one side triggered rapid responses in the mirror-image region on the opposite side, demonstrating a clear homotopic (mirror-matched) wiring pattern. This extends a fundamental principle of how the brain is organized into a region previously thought to be too variable and evolutionarily recent to follow such rules.

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Researchers measured bile acid levels in the blood and joint fluid of knee osteoarthritis patients and compared them to the degree of joint inflammation. Certain bile acids were significantly elevated in patients with more severe inflammation, and these acids correlated with pain and stiffness scores. Lab experiments showed bile acids can reduce inflammatory signaling in joint cells, suggesting gut-derived bile acids may play a biological role in driving or modulating joint inflammation in osteoarthritis.

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A randomized trial in South Korea tested whether metformin or a bile acid drug (UDCA) could speed recovery from long COVID symptoms in 396 adults. About two-thirds of participants in all three groups — metformin, UDCA, and placebo — recovered by eight weeks, with no meaningful difference between the active treatments and placebo. A two-week course of either drug does not improve long COVID recovery.

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A team developed a brain-computer interface framework that simultaneously decodes two things from electrical brain recordings: the acoustic qualities of speech (pitch, rhythm, voice identity) and the linguistic content (words). By combining both pathways using voice cloning, the system produced highly intelligible synthetic speech with a word error rate under 19% using only 20 minutes of patient data. This resolves a longstanding tradeoff in brain-computer interfaces where improving one aspect of speech quality typically came at the cost of the other.

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Researchers compiled data from 67 studies to compare outcomes when a specialized airway procedure (EXIT) for newborns with potentially blocked airways was planned in advance versus performed as an emergency. Unscheduled procedures led to significantly more maternal blood loss and a threefold higher rate of newborn deaths, though experienced teams at prepared centers could still perform them safely. The analysis strongly supports early diagnosis and multidisciplinary planning to reduce harm.

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This review pooled data from five studies comparing different post-surgery immobilization approaches after wrist ligament repair surgery. Restricting forearm rotation for about four to six weeks produced better pain and function outcomes than immediate movement, while whether the elbow was also immobilized made no meaningful difference. The findings give surgeons clearer guidance on how to protect the wrist repair without unnecessarily limiting the whole arm.

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A Korean hospital compared outcomes in patients with bloodstream infections from a highly drug-resistant bacteria (KPC-producing Enterobacterales) treated with a newer antibiotic, ceftazidime-avibactam, versus older combination therapies. The newer drug cut 30-day mortality roughly in half (15% vs. 28%) and dramatically reduced persistent infection. These results provide the first real-world evidence from South Korea supporting ceftazidime-avibactam as a first-line treatment for these dangerous, hard-to-treat infections.

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This paper proposes a new way of thinking about how genes that control biological variability evolve under natural selection. The authors argue that evolution acts on genes influencing randomness in reproduction and development — not just genes controlling average traits — and that there is an optimal level of this "biological noise" depending on how fast the environment changes. This framework connects two previously separate areas of genetics research and addresses a long-standing philosophical objection to the idea that the capacity to evolve can itself evolve.

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A phase I trial tested whether using nuclear imaging of liver function could help safely re-irradiate liver tumors in patients who had already received radiation. By targeting radiation away from the still-functioning parts of the liver identified by a special scan, 13 patients received retreatment with acceptable toxicity rates and some evidence of liver regrowth in untreated areas. This approach could expand treatment options for patients with recurring liver tumors who were previously considered too high-risk for additional radiation.

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This study compared standard lab cultures with rapid DNA-based testing (multiplex PCR) for identifying bacterial causes of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia in ICU patients. PCR identified pathogens in about four and a half hours versus five days for cultures, and doctors adjusted antibiotics much faster with PCR results. However, doctors rarely stopped broad-spectrum antibiotics even when PCR results came back negative, showing that faster testing alone is not enough without changes in prescribing culture.

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Researchers packaged a cancer drug called alisertib into a nanoparticle designed to cross the blood-brain barrier and target tumor cells using an antibody fragment. In mouse models of aggressive pediatric brain cancer, glioblastoma, and lung cancer, the nanoparticle version outperformed standard alisertib in shrinking tumors and extended survival when combined with radiation. This delivery system addresses a major reason clinical trials of alisertib have underperformed: the drug was not reaching tumors in adequate concentrations.

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Nine healthy adults underwent three nights of normal sleep versus three nights of restricted sleep in a controlled lab study, with blood drawn every two hours to track metabolites. Sleep restriction significantly disrupted the normal daily rhythms of dozens of metabolites in the blood, including several produced by gut bacteria such as butyrate. The findings reveal that even a few nights of poor sleep alter gut microbial activity in the bloodstream, pointing to a potential biological link between sleep loss and metabolic health risks.

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Four eyes with treatment-resistant wet age-related macular degeneration were switched from aflibercept to a newer drug, faricimab, and then monitored with high-resolution retinal imaging. After the switch, the abnormal blood vessel networks shrank and became less complex, even though the underlying vessel trunk persisted, and fluid leakage remained well controlled at extended dosing intervals. The imaging tool used (OCT angiography) detected structural changes in blood vessels that standard imaging missed, making it more useful for tracking how well treatments are working.

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Researchers measured blood vessel development in the skeletal muscles and hearts of fetal and newborn lambs to understand how the transition to breathing air affects circulation. Despite the muscles growing larger after birth and shifting toward more energy-demanding fiber types, blood vessel density actually fell in newborn lambs compared to late-stage fetuses. Elevated levels of VEGF protein in newborns suggest the body is primed to expand its blood supply in the days and weeks after birth to catch up with growing muscle demands.

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Cutting the sciatic nerve in rats caused rapid and severe bone loss, with bone strength dropping significantly within just two weeks of the injury. Structural imaging confirmed that bone density, thickness, and porosity all worsened within three months, alongside losses in the nerve fibers and signaling molecules that normally maintain bone health. These findings show that nerve damage directly harms bone through multiple pathways beyond just muscle weakness, which matters for designing rehabilitation after nerve injuries.

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This clinical trial tests two strategies for bringing proven addiction treatments — medication-assisted treatment and cognitive behavioral therapy — into VA housing programs for homeless veterans with substance use disorders. About 40% of veterans leave these housing programs within two years, often because untreated addiction goes unaddressed, and this study will test whether adding peer coaching by other veterans improves uptake of these treatments across 12 housing sites. The results will produce a practical implementation guide for spreading these treatments through homeless veteran services.

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This study determined the minimum change in quality-of-life score that actually matters to patients with rare cancers of the nasal and sinus cavities, using a standard 22-question symptom survey. Across 264 patients followed for up to five years, a score change of about 4 points was the threshold for a clinically meaningful difference. Patients with early-stage disease, no radiation to the neck, and those who received pre-treatment therapy were most likely to see meaningful quality-of-life improvements.

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Researchers tested two species of tropical green seaweed found off the coast of Borneo for their ability to kill viruses in fish and identified the chemical compounds responsible. Both species showed activity against a fish-infecting virus, with one achieving a 98% reduction in viral levels. The bioactive compounds identified offer a promising natural alternative for controlling viral disease in fish farming without relying on synthetic drugs.

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This review examined 11 years of research on sun protection among agricultural workers, who face far higher UV radiation exposure than people who work indoors. Knowledge and protective behaviors varied widely by region and culture, with hats and long pants being the most common precautions, but consistent sun-safe habits remained uncommon. Off-the-shelf awareness campaigns have little impact; effective prevention requires interventions tailored to specific workplace cultures and environments.

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Researchers tracked pneumonia cases in Taiwanese children between 2015 and 2025, comparing those caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae with pneumonia from the COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 variant. Mycoplasma pneumonia predominantly struck school-age children (6–11 years) and was increasingly resistant to standard antibiotic treatment, while COVID-19 pneumonia mainly hit children under 3. Prolonged fever, low lymphocyte counts, and elevated inflammatory markers reliably predicted which Mycoplasma patients would not respond to first-line antibiotics, giving doctors clearer signals to switch treatments early.

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A surgeon switched from metal screws to bioresorbable implants for a knee surgery that repositions the tendon attachment, and compared 44 metal-screw cases with 18 bioresorbable cases. Bone healing rates were identical, but zero bioresorbable patients required a second surgery to remove hardware compared to 30% of metal-screw patients. In short-term follow-up, the bioresorbable implants appear to eliminate the most common complication of this surgery — the need for hardware removal — though the newer implants cost more upfront.

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Researchers analyzed over 1,000 social media posts from patients who had ACL reconstruction surgery using either a quadriceps tendon graft or the more traditional patellar tendon graft. Posts about quadriceps tendon grafts were far more positive (62% vs. 43%), with patients reporting better recovery milestones and less concern about scarring at the donor site. These real-world patient perspectives can help surgeons have more informed conversations with patients about which graft option to choose.

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A 53-year-old right-handed woman who had a large stroke destroying the left side of her brain — the hemisphere normally dominant for language — showed no lasting language or other cognitive deficits. Brain imaging confirmed her right hemisphere had taken over all language processing. This rare case demonstrates that language, spatial awareness, and motor planning can all simultaneously relocate to the right hemisphere, and clinicians should not assume stroke severity alone predicts which functions will be lost.

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Single-cell genomic analysis of glioblastoma tumor samples showed that radiation at clinical doses reshapes tumor cell populations in complex, dose-dependent ways, with different cancer cell subtypes activating distinct survival programs. Radiation also altered which regions of the DNA were accessible for gene activation in a cell-type-specific manner, suggesting that each tumor subpopulation has its own strategy for surviving treatment. Understanding these subpopulation-specific responses could help identify which cancer cells are most responsible for treatment resistance and identify new drug targets.

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Machine learning models were trained on clinical data from nearly 500 critically ill COVID-19 patients to predict 90-day mortality under two different anti-inflammatory drugs (baricitinib and tocilizumab) and identify which patients would do better on which drug. The models achieved good predictive accuracy and identified subgroups where one drug was clearly associated with lower mortality than the other. In about 13% of patients, the model would have recommended a different drug than what was given, though whether switching would actually improve survival requires a prospective trial to confirm.

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Researchers compared two standard MRI sequences against CT scans for measuring shoulder socket bone loss in patients with recurrent dislocations. A high-resolution MRI sequence called FIESTA agreed nearly perfectly with CT measurements, while the other MRI sequence also performed well. Both MRI approaches eliminate radiation exposure and cost significantly less than ordering both scans, supporting MRI as a standalone option for pre-surgical planning.

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The MOMMY cohort is a large Chinese birth cohort study designed to track how gut bacteria pass from parents to infants and how those microbial communities shape children's health over the first seven years of life. Since 2019, the study has enrolled families across three geographically diverse regions of China, collecting stool, breast milk, blood, and cord blood at multiple time points alongside dietary and environmental data. By combining microbiome, metabolomics, immune, and epigenetic measurements at scale, the cohort aims to fill a major gap in understanding early-life microbial development outside Western populations.